
Book : :U— 

DOBELL COLLECTION 



A LYME GARLAND 



BEING VERSES, MAINLY WRITTEN 

AT LYME REGIS, 

OR UPON THE SCENERY OF THE 

NEIGHBOURHOOD ; 

BY 

FEANCIS TUENEE PALGEAVE 



PRINTED FOE THE SCHOOL FUND 



BY THE SAME AUTHOR 



LYRICAL POEMS: i Vol 



ORIGINAL HYMNS 

Third Edition 



The FIVE DAYS ENTERTAINMENTS 

A Story-book for Children, with illustrations 
by Arthur Hughes 



PUBLISHED BY 

Macmillan & Co: Bedford Street; 
Co vent Garden, London. 



A LYME GAB LAND 



/OS 'J 

BEING VERSES, MAINLY WRITTEN 
AT LYME REGIS, 



or upon the scenery of the 
neighbourhood; 

BY 



FEANCIS TURNER PALGRAVE 

M 



PRINTED FOE THE SCHOOL FUND 

c I 8*143 



.6 









TO 


| 


MARGARET 


INGRAM 


OF POULETT 


HOUSE 


THESE VEBSES ABE 


DEDICATED 


AS A SMALL 


TOKEN 


OP MT7CH EESPECT AND AFFECTION 


Little Park : 




August, 1874 








Sura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes ; 
flumina amem sylvasque inglorius — 



205449 
5 13 



TEE DANISH BARROW 

Lie still, old Dane, below thy heap ! — 
A sturdy-back and sturdy-limb, 
Who'er he was, I warrant him 

Upon whose mound the single sheep 
Browses and tinkles in the sun, 
Within the narrow vale alone. 



Lie still, old Dane ! this restful scene 

Suits well thy centuries of sleep : 

The soft brown roots above thee creep, 
The lotus flaunts his ruddy sheen, 

And, — vain memento of the spot, — 

The turquoise-eyed forget-me-not. 

Lie still ! — thy mother-land herself 
Would know thee not again : no more 
The Raven from the northern shore 

Hails the bold crew to push for pelf, 

Through fire and blood and slaughter'd kings, 
Neath the black terror of his wings. 



And thou ; — thy very name is lost ! 
The peasant only knows that here 
Bold Alfred scoop'd thy flinty bier, 

And pray'd a foeman's prayer, and tost 
His auburn head, and said ' One more 
1 Of England's foes guards England's shore,' 

And turn'd and pass'd to other feats, 

And left thee in thine iron robe, 

To circle with the circling globe, 
While Time's corrosive dewdrop eats 

The giant warrior to a crust 

Of earth in earth, and rust in rust. 

So lie ; and let the children play 
And sit like flowers upon thy grave, 
And crown with flowers, — that hardly have 

A briefer blooming-time than they : — 
So soon all human things have rest, 
Like thee, within the Mother's breast. 

Lyme: 1873 



IN SPRING 

Sweet primrose time ! when thou art here 

I go by grassy ledges 
Of long lane-side, and pasture-mead, 

And moss-entangled hedges : 

And all about her army gay 

The primrose weather musters, 
In single knots, and scatter'd files, 

And constellated clusters. 

And golden-headed children go 

Among the golden blossoms, 
And harvest a whole meadow's wealth, 

Heap'd in their dainty bosoms. 

Ah ! play your play, sweet little ones, 

While life is gladness only : 
Nor ask an equal mirth from hearts 

Which, e'en with you, are lonely. 

Grod to his flowers his flowers gives, 

Pure happiness uncloying : 
Whilst they, whose primrose time is past, 

Enjoy in your enjoying. 

Lyme: 1874 



NATURAE BEPARATRICI 

Gray cloud, gray veil 'twixt me and youth 

And youth's unclouded weather, 
Well may'st thou blot the golden days 

And skies effaced for ever. 

In vain the veil to silver melts, 

And flakes of sun and shadow 
Once more invite these alien steps 

To chase them o'er the meadow. 

Yet nature holds a gracious hand, 

Her ancient way pursuing ; 
And spreads the charms we loved of old, 

To aid the heart's renewing. 

Here her long crests of fringed crag 

Allure the sky-ward swallows ; 
Here still the dove's low love-note floats 

Above her leafy hollows. 

Here its calm strength her hillside rears 

From heaving slopes of clover ; 
Here still the pewit pipes and flits 

Within his furzy cover. 

Here hums the wild-bee in the thyme, 

Here glows the royal heather ; 
And youth comes back upon the breeze, 

And youth's unclouded weather. 

Lyme : 1871 



A SUMMER SUNSET: 
Wootonfrom Westover 

This hour is given to peace : — 
The downward slanting sunbeams graze the vale 
Where Even breathes her stealthy gathering gray ; 

And o'er pale stubble-plots, the sheaves 
Like walls of gold stretch out their long array. 

Upon the green slope sward 
The hedgerow elms lie pencill'd by the sun 
In greener greenness : and, athwart the sky, 

Dotted like airy dust, the rooks 
Oar themselves homeward with a distant cry. 

And the whole vale beneath, 
To Castle Lambert's purple-trowning height, 
With all its wealth outspread of harvest hopes 

Half green, half russet-rich, runs up 
As a fair tapestry shaken o'er the slopes. 

It is an utter calm ! 
The topmost ash tree sprays have ceased to wave ; 
The wood-dove checks her sweet redoubled moan ; 

And e'en the gray-wall'd cottages 
Stand mid their bowers like things of Nature's own. 

I hear the shepherd's call ; 
The white specks gather to the crowding fold, 
Their lowly palace of unvex'd repose : 



10 

While o'er the chambers of the sun 
Float filmy fleeces of empurpled rose. 

And now the silent moon 
Lifts her gray shield above a glassy sea, 
And from the highest cloud the sunbeams cease : 

And, tranced in Nature's holy hour, 
My heart finds something of its ancient peace. 

Lyme: 1871 



11 



AUTUMN 

With downcast eyes and footfall mild, 
And close-drawn robe of lucid haze, 

The rose-red Summer's russet child 
O'er field and forest Autumn strays : 

On lawn and mead at rising day 

Tempers the green with pearly gray ; 

And 'neath the burning beech throws round 

A golden carpet on the ground. 

And oft a look of long regret 

Her eyes to Summer's glory throw ; 
Delaying oft the brand to set 

That strips the blossom from the bough :— 
And where in some low shelter'd vale 
The last sweet August hues prevail, 
Her eager frosts she will repress, 
And spare the lingering loveliness. 

And for her searing hours of night 
And narrow'd spaces of her day, 
By sudden smiles of mellow light 

And azure gleams she strives to pay ; 
With cluster' d coral tempts the bird 
To livelier song than Summer heard, 
Till the loud flutings of his strain 
Cheat him almost to Spring again. 



12 



Yet, in her own despite, her sway- 
Leads down the year to gloom and cold, 
And all the green delight of May 

Her touch transmutes to barren gold : 
As Age, that brings the crown of wealth, 
Palsies the pulse of vital health, 
And while to pride of state we press, 
Kills the soul's inner fruitfulness. 

Ah ! whilst her stealthy hands unbare 

The naked trellis of the groves, 
Bleak Winter laughs within his lair, 
And revels in the wreck he loves : 
And knows his hour will soon be here 
To cast his shroud upon the year, 
And o'er the white hill-side and vale 
To ride and ravage on the gale. 

And though beneath the snow-mass'd slope 

The harvests of the fature lie, 
No hue of life, no hint of hope 

Lights the dead earth and spectral sky. 
And all the promise of the Spring 
Is like a hidden far-off thing ; 
A dream too tender, faint, and sweet, 
For mortal eyes again to meet. 

No ! The dear hopes that grow more dear 
With sterner self-restraint we quell ; 

And what lies hid within the year 
We would not, if we could, foretell. 






13 



No ! — And if once again we see 
The green leaf glorify the tree, 
The gray sky glisten into blue, 
It will not be the Spring we knew. 



k 



14 



TO MY MOTHER'S MEMORY 

So many years are gone since last I saw thee, 
And I, alas ! so young 

When that black hour its shadow o'er me flung, 
That with but feeble tints, 
Vague strokes, half-lights, time-troubled tints, 
E'en to the inner eye my heart can draw thee. 
Yet sometime memory wakes, — 

! not in night, or sadness, but when dawn 
Slopes all her silver o'er the dewy lawn, 

Or golden day dimples on mountain-lakes, 

Or evening's wild-dove tolls her brooding strain, — 

Then I remember me of what thou wast, 

And see thee once again. 

Though denizen'd so long in far-off bowers 
And in another air, 

Her form I know 'mong all the blest ones there. 
Before toward me she turns 
My gazing heart within me burns, 
And a new rose-flush flames through all the flowers. 

1 know the step, the dress, 

The grace around her way like sunbeams shed ; 
The worshipp'd hand, on my then-golden head 
Laid with the touch of utter gentleness ; 
The hair — but ! no more what it had been, 
Silver'd with pain, not age, — but fair as once 
In youth, by me unseen. 



15 

'Mong all the bright ones there is none such other ! 
Clear through that myriad throng 
Like some sweet subtle scent I catch her song : — 

by whatever name 

Now named, thy child, my part I claim ; 
My soul goes forth to thee ; I call thee, Mother ! 
Smile the low serious smile 
Which animated youth to highest aims : 
Lay thy soft hand upon the fever-flames 
That manhood's brain to foolishness beguile : 
Hold me once more upon the faithful breast : 
Kiss my life- wearied eyelids, say My child ! 
And then I shall find rest. 

As when a dove from her soft flight alighting 
More softly glides along, 

Her feet float by me mid the rose-crown'd throng ; 
With eyes as if of one 
Who sees, and sees not, and is gone 
Where other eyes allure, and hands inviting. 
— Hast thou no word for me ? 
None for me, Mother, never needing more 
The wisdom needless on the golden floor, 
The counsels of thy bright sobriety ? 
— Or, musing on the man that once was child, 
Canst not endure to look on all this change, 
So fair, — now so defiled ? 

Mid all the white-robed flock of Grod, which slowly 
Streams up the heavenly ways, i . 

1 see the star above her forehead blaze 



16 



When she bends back, (as they 

Who, turning from their height, survey 

Some low dim spire to far remembrance holy); 

And, flash'd from breast to breast, 

A voice rings clear, as when, knee press'd on knee 

And face on face, her whisper'd words to me 

Were as the words of Grod ; — and this unrest 

Of later years, through all the nerves is still'd, 

Like some stream-tortured pool, that calms at once 

With level crystal fill'd. 

Then she : ' When once we reach the great releasing, 
' Not only are we freed 

* From all that clogs the soul, all earthly greed ; 

* But also pain and fear 

' Leave the transnatured spirit clear, 

' And hope, in her fulfilment, finds her ceasing. 

' Whilst here I watch their way 

6 Whose life, in life, was more to me than life, 

' The chaunt of peace streams from the heart of strife ; 

' And all that seems but wrong and disarray 

' Is harmonized to beauty and to good ; 

' All thou deem'st pain and ill, in Grod's high scheme 

1 Is love misunderstood. 

' Poor human souls, each in its earthly prison, 
' The separate fleshy cell, 

' That meet, but cannot touch, whilst there they dwell ! 
' Here I, my child, with you 
' Have real oneness, union true ; 

* Eyes never dimm'd by tears, and stainless vision. 



17 



' Love, by the central Throne, 

' Before time was, for this took up his seat, 

' That heart in heart, and soul in soul should beat, 

' That One should be in All, and All in One. 

— ' So here I bide among the rose-crown'd throng 

' Waiting Love's day, and mine, and thine, and thee : 

6 For it will not be long.' 

I heard : and face to face she seem'd before me, 
And moved her hand toward mine. 
And I : 'Tis so ! now let me take the sign ; 
With tears and kisses hold 
The slender fingers kiss'd of old ; — 
But silent, flowerlike, she leant back, and o'er me 
Her hand as blessing, held ; 
And aweful love was on her eyelids spread, 
And the pure pearly star, that crown'd her head, 
Flash' d sudden rose : and my wild heart was quell'd. 
And now she turn'd ; and, in her turning, Love 
Was heard ; — Then bent her steps through Heaven ; — 

for she 
Knows all the ways thereof. 

Go, Song ! poor satisfaction of large debt 

Which that fair Saint on me for life has bound : 

And if the wise thy reason seek, 

Say, Thou hast been long sought, and lately found ; 

My blame, if far below her excellence ; — 

The spirit is willing, but the tongue is weak. 

Lijme: 1871 



18 



TEE SEA GODS: 

A scene from Lyme in the last century. 

A red fog hangs on the horns of the moon 

In a heaven of breeze and rain ; 
And voices come from the silvery sea, 
And they run the boat with a low hoarse glee 

Through the foam-fringed skirt of the main. 

Like drift; she dances npon the wave 

As aloft the brown sails glide ; 
And she knows her way o'er the silvery sea, 
And knocks the foam from her bows with glee 

And the wake spreads steady and wide. 

They are but two against King and Laws ; 

But two that each other know : 
They are but two on the silvery sea, 
But they face their chance with a sinewy glee 

As into the night they go. 

On the cliff the station is white and high, 

But sees not, snug and low 
Where their mate lies dim on the silvery sea, 
With a light just shown in a flash of glee 

As they near the weather-bow. 

With a hail and a laugh and a heave-yo-ho 
They lower the kegs afloat : — 



19 



But they curse the moon on the silvery sea, 
And his white crests hiss with an angry glee 
Bound the gunwale-laden "boat. 

Nereus and Triton are faded and gone, 

Puff'd cheek, and gleaming limb : 
But these are the sons of the silvery sea, 
As salt and stalwart in lawless glee ; 
As bronzed, and matted, and grim. 

They are but two against King and laws : 

Hold on, my Tritons, awhile ! 
Two smugglers stout on a silvery sea ; — 
But they run her ashore with a swirl of glee, 

And off to the cliffs they file. 

Lyme: 1871 



20 

SANDRINGHAM: 

Winter, 1871 

In the drear November gloom 
And the long December night, 
There were omens of affright, 
And prophecies of doom ; 
And the golden lamp of life wax'd blue and dim, 
Till Love could hardly mark 
The little sapphire spark, 
That only made the dark 
More dark and grim. 

There not around alone 
Watch'd sister, brother, wife, 
And she who gave him life, 
White as if wrought in stone ; 
Unheard, invisible, by the bed of death 
Stood eager millions by, 
And as the hour drew nigh, 
Dreading to see him die, 
Held their breath. 

Where'er in far-spread skies 
The Lion-Banner burns, 
A common impulse turns 
All hearts to where he lies : 



21 



For as a babe the heir of that great throne 
Is weak and motionless ; 
And they feel the deep distress 
On wife and mother press, 
As 'twere their own. 

! not the thought of race 
From Asian Odin drawn 
In History's mystic dawn, 
Nor what we downward trace, 
— Plantagenet, York, Edward, Elizabeth, — 
Heroic names approved, — 
The blood of the people moved ; 
But that 'niongst those he loved, 
He fought with Death. 

And if the Eeason said, 
* 'Grainst Nature's law and Death 
' Prayer is but idle breath,' — 
Yet Faith was undismay'd, 
Arm'd with the deeper insight of the heart : — 
Nor can the wisest say 
What other laws may sway 
The world's apparent way, 
Known but in part. 

Nor knew we on that life 
What burdens may be cast ; 
What issues wide and vast 
Dependent on that strife : — 



22 



This only]: ' 'Twas the son of those we loved ! 
' That in his Mother's hand 
' Peace set her golden wand ; 
' 'Mid world-wide change, one land 
* Law-ruled, unmoved.' J 

—He fought, and'we with him ! 
And other powers were by, 
Courage, and Science high, 
Grappling the spectre grim 
On the battle-field of quiet Sandringham : 
And force of perfect Love, 
And the will of One above, 
Chased Death's dark squadrons off, 
And overcame. 

— Soul, to human breath 
Eedeem'd, and wider aim 
Than private care can claim, 
From the clench'd teeth of Death ! 
By suffering and by safety dearer made : — 
that the life new-found 
With "Wisdom's crown be crown'd, 
Till in the common ground 
Thou too art laid ! 



23 



CHILDREN'S LAMENT FOR BABY 

Deal- little baby day by day 
We watch'd as on the bed it lay ; 
And oft its eyes it open'd wide, 
And smiled to see us at its side : — 
The clothes are on the empty bed ; 
But where is little baby fled ? 

Its limbs were growing long and fine, 
Its hands put out to clasp and twine ; 
The lips began to coo and call ; 
It sat upright and wish'd to crawl ; 
And brighter daily round its head 
The golden hair like sunrise spread. 

When first within the cot it lay, 
We ask'd if it had come to stay ; 
And scream'd for joy to hear them tell 
'Twas sent from Grod with us to dwell, 
And play about till it was grown, 
And be our very very own. 

And when its eyes were sunk and dim, 
And wasting seized each tiny limb, 
We nursed it on our knees all day, 
And begg'd it not to go away : 
It moved its head and faintly cried, 
And then lay still and sigh'd and sigh'd. 



24 



And now we cry and look in vain, 
And cannot see it here again : — 
The cot is white and still and bare, 
But baby smiles and sings elsewhere ; 
Among Grod's Angels bright and dear: 
Yet not more Angel there than here. 



25 



HYMNS 



The three Children's Hymns are published as Broad 
Sheets for Schools at the Office of the National Society, 
Broad Sanctuary, Westminster ; S.W. 

They have been set to music by Mr. James Tilleard ; 
published by Novello & Co., 1, Berners Street, London ; W. 



26 



A CHILD' 8 MORNING EYMN 

(rod who, when the night was deep, 
Hast kept me safe and lent me sleep, 
Now with thy sun thou bid'st me rise, 
And look around with older eyes. 

Each blessed morning thou dost give, 

1 have one morning less to live : 
help me so this day to spend, 
To make me fitter for the end ! 

bid all wicked thoughts to fly ; 
The fretful word, and idle eye ; 
Help me to think, in all I do, 
' Grod sees me : would he have it so ?' 

Make my first wish and thought to be 
For others sooner than for me ; 
And let me pardon them, as I 
Hope for Grod's pardon when I die. 

Be with me when I work and play ; 
Be with me now and every day. 
Be near me, when I pray thee hear, 
And when I pray not, Lord ! be near. 

Lyme : 1874 



27 



A CHILD'S EVENING HYMN 

Lord who, when thy cross was nigh, 
Didst wake and pray as night went by, 
Thy gentle sleep like dew once more 
Upon my head I pray thee pour. 

One little heap of days for me 
Is measured out by Grod's decree ; 
And one day from that little heap 
Is gone as I lie down to sleep. 

And I know not how soon the tale 
Of my few days and short may fail : — 
Grod, whene'er ! — for thy dear Son, 
Me, even me, have mercy on ! 

O strange, that as I kneel and pray, 
He from his throne hears all I say ! 
— Give me but what for me is best : — 
This is enough : Thou know'st the rest. 

sleepless Shepherd of the sheep, 
Now fold me in, and bid me sleep : 
From evil safe, and night's alarms, 
Nursed in thine everlasting arms. 



28 



A LITTLE CHILD'S HYMN 

Thou that once, on mother's knee, 
Wast a little one like me, 
When I wake or go to bed 
Lay thy hands about my head ; 
Let me feel thee very near, 
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear. 

Be beside me in the light, 
Close by me through all the night ; 
Make me gentle, kind, and true, 
Do what I am bid to do ; 
Help and cheer me when I fret, 
And forgive when I forget. 

Once wert thou in cradle laid, 
Baby bright in manger-shade, 
With the oxen and the cows, 
And the lambs outside the house : 
Now thou art above the sky ; 
Canst thou hear a baby cry ? 

Thou art nearer when we pray, 
Since thou art so far away ; 
Thou my little hymn wilt hear, 
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear, 
Thou that once, on mother's knee, 
Wast a little one like me. 



29 



HYMN TO THE SAVIOUR 

Christ who art above the sky 
Teach me how to live and die : 
Grod has sent me here to be, 
Born of human kind like thee : 
Thou hast gone before me here ; 
Make my pathway safe and clear. 

Pure as snow from taint of wrong, 
Thou hast felt temptation strong : 
Thou wilt help me firm to stand 
When the tempter is at hand : 
Thou wilt turn my thoughts to thee, 
And the thought of sin will flee. 

When I fall, my weakness spare ; 
Saviour, save me from despair ! 
By the mercy-gate thou art, 
Vision of the Bleeding Heart ! 
If I kneel before the gate, 
Thou wilt never cry ' Too late.' 

If I fall on evil days ; 

If the hope of life delays ; 

If my dear ones leave me lone ; 

Be thou here when they are gone : 

Thou hast known what sorrow is ; 

Thou wilt turn my tears to bliss. 



30 



So far off, and yet so near, 
Fill me with thy presence here ! 
By the love that brought thee down ; 
By the ancient cross and crown ; 
Aid me here to live and die, 
Christ who art above the sky. 

Lyme: 1874 



31 



A PSALM OF CREATION 

The Sun lifts his head in his might, 
And climbs the blue steps of the sky ; 
Nor stays when he reaches the height, 
Nor fears at the setting to die : 
For to-morrow again he is born, 
To go forth in glory and glee : — 
The Sun is thy creature, God ! 
Grod, who is like unto thee ! 

The Moon, silver ship of the sky, 
Eides over the star-dotted blue ; 
And the maiden-pure glance of her eye 
From the firmament falls like the dew. 
The stars round their Mistress rejoice, 
And sing as her beauty they see : — 
These all are thy creatures, Grod ! 
Grod, who is like unto thee ! 

The cloud overshadows the vales, 

And the mountain looks down on the cloud ; 

The eagle in solitude sails 

To the sun o'er the mountain-top proud. 

The flood from the thundercloud breaks, 

And the torrents roar down to the sea : — 

All these are thy hand- work, Grod ! 

Grod, who is like unto thee ! 



32 



Then a blue smile unfolds o'er the earth, 
And the green-robed the smiling returns ; 
The lily-bells dance in their mirth, 
And the rose in red radiance burns : 
The birds in the forest ring out, 
And a thousand wild voices agree 
To praise their Creator and Grod : — 
Grod, who is like unto thee ! 

miracle hidden in law ! 

law that gives life to the frame ! 

To blind force shall we blindly withdraw 

The purpose that all things proclaim ? 

No : we to thy sovereignty bow, 

And are part of the marvels we see : — 

Man, too, is thy creature, Grod ! 

Grod, who is like unto thee ! 



DUNSTER, PRINTER, LY1TE : 

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A LAKGKE STOCK OF 
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By popular Authors, suitable for readers of all ages and 
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Church Services SI Common Prayer Books in various bindings. 

HYMNS ANCIENT AND MODERN, 

WITH AJ5TD WITHOUT MUSIC. 



The collection of Hymns in use in Lyme Church. 

ALSO OF 

The Lyme Regis Psalmody, 

A selection of Music set to the Lyme Psalter. 



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